MARS Robotics

The Organization

Mission: FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs that build not only science and technology skills and interests but also self-confidence, leadership and life skills.

Vision: To positively transform culture by inspiring young people, their schools, and communities to appreciate science and technology.

History: Founded in 1989, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization headquarted in Manchester, New Hampshire. It prides itself on leadership in the scientific arena and commitment to building a strong foundation for the country's future workforce. Founder Dean Kamen, the recipient of the 2000 National Medal of Technology and inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, saw the need to "create a world where science and technology are celebrated" and is as revered in popular culture as music, athletics and entertainment.

One of FIRST's main activities is promoting scientific innovation through the annual Robotics Competition, designed to immerse high school students in real-life engineering, as well as the spirit of "Gracious Professionalism" to others. In its first competition in 1992 twenty-eight teams played one robotic event in a New Hampshire high school gymnasium. Rapid growth occurred with high school teams and in 1998 FIRST began a FIRST Lego League for 9 to 14 year olds. In 2005 the FIRST Vex Challenge was begun for high schools that needed a smaller scale, less expensive alternative to the FIRST Robotics Competition. Today over 1,100 teams exist, over 33 regional competitions are held yearly in different countries, and the Championship event occurs in Atlanta, Georgia in the Georgia Dome. In addition to the competitions, FIRST recently opened FIRST Place in Manchester, New Hampshire, an innovative science and technology center, that includes a hands-on children's science museum.

FIRST has experienced exponential growth since its creation, and amazing success, as indicated by the number of colleges offering scholarships to team members and the media coverage of the organization and its achievements.

Each year FIRST develops the competition by supplying an objective to teams of students, who have six weeks to conceptualize, design, build, and test their robotic solution. Each year the objective is different; details are kept secret until early January, when it is simultaneously revealed to all teams during the Kick-Off workshop held in New Hampshire. Once the six weeks have passed, robots are transported to the competition site where teams will compete in March.

What Has Been Accomplished to Date

The positve impact on student interest in engineering is proven. Participants have also learned the great value of teamwork, self-starting, character, time management, speed, etc. In most schools, participation in the FIRST Robotics Competition has had a broad positive impact beyond the team itself. The FIRST Robotics Competition is one of the varsity sports that participating schools proudly showcase in their yearbooks. The major media provide coverage of FIRST; competitions are covered by newspapers and in stories on CNN, FOX, etc.Continous,live coverage during events is on cable's NASA TV and through streaming video on-line.

Check out the official FIRST website at usfirst.org